SCOTCH whisky veteran Billy Walker has launched his industry comeback – 15 months after netting nearly £100 million for his family in the sale of the BenRiach Distillery Company.
Mr Walker, who sold BenRiach to Jack Daniel’s owner Brown-Forman for £285m, is part of a consortium which has acquired the Glenallachie Distillery in Aberlour from Pernod Ricard, owner of Chivas Brothers.
The industry stalwart is joined in the Glenallachie Consortium by Graham Stevenson, managing director of Inver House Distillers, and Trisha Savage, who has worked alongside Mr Walker at Burn Stewart Distillers and BenRiach during her 30-year career.
The value of the Glenallachie deal was not disclosed, however Pernod said it includes the distillery, the Glenallachie malt brand, and blended Scotch whiskies MacNair’s and White Heather. It also includes whisky stocks. Glenallachie is one of the youngest distilleries in Scotland, having been established in 1967.
The consortium declares its mission is to be a “wholly-Scottish owned, Scottish-based, and truly independent Scotch whisky company producing excellent whiskies and offering them at premium but affordable prices.” Pernod said the sale was in line with its strategy to focus on its “priority” brands.
Mr Walker, who has a degree in chemistry, has held roles with Ballantine’s, Inver House and Burn Stewart in an illustrious career spanning more than four decades.
He built up the formerly mothballed BenRiach Distillery in Speyside into a £40m turnover business after acquiring it with South African business partners for £5m in 2002.
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